I was beyond excited to get an e-arc of this book. It certainly didn't disappoint. I was left gripped until the very end and I'm truly hoping that there is a follow up because I just can't leave the characters where they are. So much potential. So much to learn and follow. I loved every bit of it. You think you're knowing where it's heading and then bam, another plot twist. Oh my Goddess! Just wow, excellent, excellent writing. I loved it all.

I loved the magical system based on Mortem, the power to raise the dead. I haven’t read a lot of books about death magic/necromancy so it was interesting to see how it would contribute to the story. However the setting itself fell flat for me, it was supposed to have been based on French Aristocracy/Versailles but the modern language and slang that was used felt very out of place and made this book feel more like YA. Also a few parts of this book unfortunately felt very predictable.

Many Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing the digital review copy in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.
Before I begin, I just want to say that I do love Hannah’s work, however, I do tend to find that she uses the same type of character in all of her books, and while this has worked for her, I do think she should branch out into more character depth.
So, the book is essentially about a young woman who is abandoned as a child and is forced to work as a drug runner, until she unwittingly uses her “power” to help another runner, revealing herself. Once it is found out what she can do she is thrust into political intrigue and is forced to spy on the king’s only son. While there she has to solve a mystery and confront her own past and reveal more about her power. So, this arc has been done lots of times and has many tropes running through it, however, the flow of the book is good and kept me hooked, I also enjoyed the dead god’s concept. As with other books that Hannah has written, she does tend to have a religious aspect, showing a lot of the characters as fanatics, and this book is no different. She also touches on class structure and women’s role in society. The love triangle between Lore, Bastion and Gabe was predictable, and I think I would have enjoyed a bit more spice, but overall, it was an enjoyable read.
Favorite Parts: Lore’s past reveal
Recommendations: Yes
Rating: Four Stars

I am always weary now of books with titles like this, but the premise of this book just intrigued me, and I hoped it was not going to be the usual trope that has become so popular.

The book is told from Lore's pov, a young woman who works as a spy for her Mothers, who are drug runners. She also is able to channel a power called Mortem to a significant extent, and she scares many people. This gets her pulled into matters of church and state, and she finds herself between an acolyte of the church and the heir to the throne. Of course, she fancies both and is sure they both desire her.

Despite the typical "girl stuck between two handsome men" trope (which was played out a little differently this time) the book was really good. It was well written so the style flowed easily, but you were given a bird's eye view of everything Lore is feeling. The ending left me wanting more, which is always a good sign too me. A lovely entertaining book, with a unique world and a bright future ahead of it.

5⭐️

I thoroughly enjoyed this! There was a few parts where I predicted twists etc, but it kept me guessing until the very end. I wish there had been a bit more of an explosive/emotive battle in the end, but mostly I just wish I could read the next book asap.

I DNFd For the Wolf, so I wasn’t sure if I’d enjoy this but it was so so much better and felt like a unique read!

I was looking forward to reading The Foxglove King. When Netgalley gave me the chance to read an advance copy, I was ecstatic. I enjoyed reading about the world the author created. The magic system she built was fascinating and I couldn’t wait to see the role it would take in the story. Now I had an idea of how the story would go and what would happen in the end. I was disappointed that I was right. It was a bit too predictable and the characters felt like a cliche. They could have been interchanged with other fantasy characters and there wouldn’t have been a difference. The dynamic is one we’ve seen repeated time and time again. The author set the scene well and I could picture it most of the time but did get frustrated with the numerous descriptions of artwork and statues. The story of the gods was repeated numerous times and I got a little bored after a while. However, I was hooked onto the story and still wanted to see what would happen. I adore the main characters. Even though I personally don’t feel like the book lives up to the hype, I’m still looking forward to the second book.

I loved the concept of this book! The magic system was difficult to get my head around at first, but I think that’s because it is unlike anything I have come across before.
The version I read had some typos, but hopefully that will be sorted before it hits the shelves.
I found the characters likeable, their relationships and the way they interacted with each other felt really real and believable.
I did feel like there were some backstory parts which were lacking, or their inclusion could have made the book feel deeper and I would have bonded more emotionally with it. At times, especially towards the end, there are points which lack real clarity and “wow factor” and a bit of information overload, quantity over quality say. I found the ending a little anti-climactic for what was actually a great read most of the time, which is a shame. I do think anyone who reads will be looking forward to the continuation of the story, I certainly will.
I have a feeling that booktok is going to eat this up!

My thanks to NetGalley and Orbit publishing for the opportunity to review this ARC.
I thought that the book for the first four or five chapters was a very slow burn. However as the book progressed it became dark and interesting. The three main characters were strong and I was unsure how the story would end.
Looking forward to the next installment.

Enchantingly beautiful. I really loved it. The intriguing elements, the word building, the writing style, and the main characters; everything weren’t only fascinating but also beautifully done. This was a full 5 stars read for me.

Thank you Little, Brown Book Group, U.K. and NetGalley for the arc of The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten in exchange for my honest and unbiased review.

This month has been absolutely overflowing with great reads and The Foxglove King definitely has its place up there with them! What an amazing adventure. Hannah Whitten has created an absolute marvel of a book that delivers a new magic system, solid world building, great characters and a love triangle that doesn’t drive you insane!

Set in the city of Dellaire, above the catacombs that hold the body of the goddess of death and the moon, we meet Lore, who escaped the same catacombs a decade earlier at the age of 13. Lore has built a new life, and whilst she can’t leave Dellaire has hopes of building something more. That is until her death / mortem powers are unwittingly revealed and she is faced with a choice - death on the Burnt Isle or working fir the monarch, the Sainted King. Enter her guard/monk/ex-Duke, Gabe and Bastian, the heir to the throne that she needs to get close to.

Dellaire definitely had a feeling of pre-Revolution Paris for me; A glittering court where all needs and wants are sated, that thrives on gossip and indulgence, sitting adjacent to a world of poverty and deprivation. Sitting above this is a religion whose foundations are immersed in a world of myth, mystery magic, gods and goddesses, Spiritum (life/sun) and Mortem (death/moon.)

The protagonists of the story are definitely not one dimensional, they’re complex, irritating, engaging, empathetic and I have to gratefully admit loaded with shades of grey.

The plot is woven throughout the story, with layers of development and pace that builds as the story progresses. I will be honest, there were a few jarring notes, such as the use of words like salty and mug, that felt a little too modern for the setting but, these are few and minor, because this is such a fantastic read, 4.5 stars from me! Can I have the next book now please?

I implore you, if you don’t pick up another fantasy book this year, pick up The Foxglove King. You definitely won’t regret it.

3.5/5
I've rounded this up to closer to 4 stars as this was an overall enjoyable read. I immediately requested this book when I read about the Mortem plot as it was exciting and something that was a little bit different from previous magic/necromancy angles. I hadn't previously heard of Hannah Whitten so I wasn't aware of her usual writing style or tropes which I think was an advantage.

I enjoyed the magic and its descriptions - this was the best part of this novel. I was excited for it to build and become more complex and I felt this was done very well by Whitten. Lore was stubborn and free and I enjoyed reading from her narrative (I always am a bit biased towards 3rd person perspective as it's my favourite). I loved some of the imagery used.

However I found that some of the language used clashed with the mythical/medieval sort of setting that Whitten seemed to be going for - a character saying someone was "salty" felt really strange and took me out of the plot for a solid moment. Additionally, some of the interactions between characters felt forced - an overuse of sexualised puns and "banter". Unfortunately this book seemed determined to push a love triangle on the reader despite it feeling unnecessary to the overall plot. I also found myself skimming over the descriptions of some of the ballrooms and the many different dresses that Lore wore as they felt a bit fanfiction-y and, again, spending half a page on description that didn't actually add anything to the story for me.

Overall I would be interested in reading the next part of this (?) trilogy as I enjoyed Lore and would be excited to see how the magic would be developed.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for sending me an eARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

An absolute masterpiece of a book! I feel in love with the world that Hannah Whitten created and I can’t wait for the sequel.

~~~
Lore escaped a cult in the catacombs of Dellaire when she was thirteen. Ten years later, she’s still hiding from them. When her powers are revealed after a job gone wrong, Lore is blackmailed into working for the Sainted King. Between her guard-duke-turned-monk, the crown Prince and the King’s glittering court, Lore must step carefully.
~~~

I had no idea what I was getting into when I started this book, but this is a solid contender for my favourite book this year!

The star of this book is its world-building. The complexity and intricacies of this world were so great and I loved reading this. The religious aspects of this book were beautiful, both the historical and the traumatic. I loved the godly figures and the mysteries that surrounded them.

Lore, Gabe and Bastian are all complex characters that develop and grow with the plot. I loved their dynamics and the tensions between them all. Especially Lore, who stole the show with her confidence and tragic story. I have a soft spot for angsty women.

I wholeheartedly urge everyone to read this book. It’s a fantastic piece of art that draws you into a new world!

The Foxglove King will be out 9th March!

Thank you to Netgalley and Little Brown Book Group for this arc. The review is my own and freely given.

The review will be posted on Instagram and Goodreads on the 23rd Feb.

4/5 stars! An enjoyable fantasy read by an author I've read before. I loved this author's Wolf set so dove into this one. I appreciated the majority of the story but struggled with pacing at times.

I received an advance review copy for free through NetGalley, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

An impulse selection on NetGalley, the Foxglove King the beginning of a fantasy series by Hannah Whitten. Having not read any of her previous books, I had no idea what to expect.

In a world where poison has recreational use, Lore is a poison-runner recruiting by the King to spy on his son and heir. Villages outside of the central kingdom are being wiped up by an unknown power with no evidence is its wake. Using her birth power of channeling Mortem, Lore teams up with Gabe and Bastian to find out who is behind the murders whilst they also navigate the politics of the court and the religion that rules it.

This is a great first book for a series. The characters have been set up really well; Lore is fierce, Gabe is brooding and Bastian... he's probably the epitome of ideal fantasy guy for me.

I don't want to drop any spoilers but (of course) there's a budding romance but I honestly have no idea which way Whitten is going to go with it.

Will I be eagerly awaiting the second instalment? Absolutely.

The Foxglove King is a dazzling story with bewitching magic and compelling characters.

Lore, born in the catacombs and tied to the city with death magic, lives life in the shadows. After a dramatic incident where her power is revealed, she is taken to the King, and forced to help him solve the mystery of the dying villages, or die herself. She is thrust into a world of politics, betrayal, and dark magic.

The world-building is one of the things which really makes this book shine. The strange death powers of Mortem that Lore wields, the warrior-monks who also wield Mortem, and the history of the Kingdom adds to the intrigue. Powerful descriptions allow the readers to be fully immersed in the magic.

The characters are wonderful, as Lore is a likable protagonist with some fire behind her. The two male leads, Gabriel and Bastian, fall neatly into the typical tropes in a love triangle - one is stoic and kind, and the other is flirtatious and bold. Nevertheless, they make for an interesting dynamic!

The ending has no doubt left me wanting more, and I eagerly await the second book!


Thank you to NetGalley and Little, Brown Book Group for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This review will be published on Goodreads, Instagram (@kashmini.creates), and my blog (https://kashminishah.weebly.com/writing.html) on the 23rd February, two weeks before the books publication date.

The Foxglove King by Hannah Whitten
4/5
I was already gripped by the blue death magic description so wanted to read this book so bad.
Slow paced and took me a while to understand what was going on. This is a dark fantasy with very slow start I didn't really start to enjoy this book until I was 60 % the way through and understood the world more. Lore our main character is hiding her ability to control mortem the flows of nature. After been discovered the kingdom wants to hone these powers for themselves. Bastian, the crown prince, is the person of interest in the murders of entire villages. But she has a friend, ex Duke turned self righteous monk Gabriel, who will play her second cousin in the courts as well as a fellow (legislated) Mortem channeler.

I love a book that is inspired by court days - the democratic intrigue, betrayals, and sheer opulence - but has a very modern MC. Lore is a confident, brash, and strong girl in that setting, and she fits all of those descriptions. Bastian and Gabe are also entertaining. We have the playboy bisexual prince who can't stop annoying his childhood best friend, the pious priest.

It's definitely a series I will continue to see where the story goes.

I am a bit of a newbie when it comes to the fantasy and mythology genre, but, I am widening my perspectives and so far loving it. The author has done this brilliantly. The story is beautifully written, the characters come alive on the page, the settings pop and all characters have believable voices.

The E-Book could be improved and more user-friendly, such as links to the chapters, no significant gaps between words some text written has been typed in red and a cover for the book would be better. It is very document-like instead of a book. A star has been deducted because of this.

This is a first for me by the author and one I enjoyed and would read more of their work. The book cover is eye-catching and appealing and would spark my interest if in a bookshop. Thank you very much to the author, publisher and Netgalley for this ARC.

To be published on Goodreads on 25 February 2023.

Lore is a poison-runner and a spy, who whilst protecting one of her crew reveals her ability to channel ‘mortem’. This brings her to the notice of the king, who employs her as a spy and mortem channeller within his court. Lore is then thrown into the middle of a court filled with intrigue and mystery, not knowing who she can trust.

The Foxglove King is a well done fantasy mystery, that kept me guessing until the end. The world building is intricate and well thought-out, and the magic system is interesting and original. The characters are all well rounded and three-dimensional, and Lore is a great lead. I’m looking forward to reading the next book in the series.

I wasn't sure to begin with, but ended up loving this. What a cliffhanger! It took me some time to understand mortem, though, and I felt like that could have been explained better in the early parts. Loved the characters though!

*SCREAMING* BLEEDING GODS!

So, there is a graphic that's going around on social media in relation to the book, listing all the tropes it contains (forbidden romance, death magic, force proximity, court intrigued, amongst others) and when I saw it my brain instantly started putting big green ticks next to each one; yup, yes of course they should kiss for 'reasons', uh huh I love angst who doesn't! I thought wow, that really covers everything I like, this book will be a quaint entertaining Sunday read for me. ....the graphic in question in its overstament, understates what this book will ACTUALLY do to your heart. This book will repeatedly punch you in the face and likely give your heart palpitations. It did me!

The angst, the bants, the dialogue throughout the three main characters this story centres around are the shining centre piece, with the intriguing teased out plot driving them along and introducing new facets to their personalities. They are highly relatable and my inner sad girl was there for it. The magic is raw, the settings are dark and dirty. The religious trauma might likely be triggering for some but it certainly stoked the fires in me.

I don't want to make this a spoiler review so I'll keep it vague. Still, what a wild ride. The silver lining? It's a trilogy! I still think even three books isn't enough, this world one will live rent free in my head for a very long time. Run to your bookstore on release day, buy yourself a copy and a whole bunch for your friends and family. You're welcome, no need to thank me. Just come back to me if you're a Bastian stan, we need to talk! 👀